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Global Glimpses

“Global Glimpses” follows compliance, risk, and corporate governance news both in Europe and around the world. It covers developments at the International Accounting Standards Board, as well as global regulation, anti-bribery, and corruption enforcement, along with other compliance developments abroad. Global Glimpses is written by contributor Paul Hodgson. Hodgson welcomes questions, comments, and statements from readers on global issues and will address them here when appropriate. Readers can contact him at paul.hodgson@complianceweek.com.

Oct. 8—A new survey shows that IT executives in Europe are mainly confident when it comes to their perimeter security, but have their doubts when it comes to protecting data once the perimeter is breached. The survey, conducted by SafeNet, revealed 60 percent said they were not confident data would be safe if unauthorized users got through the outer layer of security. Overall a quarter of respondents said they would not trust their own company with their personal data if they were a customer. That number was even higher for IT execs in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. More survey results inside.

Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt met with the EU’s new antitrust chief on Monday. The search engine giant is being scrutinized by regulators for engaging in anticompetitive practices, potential antitrust violations, and oversight of privacy issues. In response to the mounting regulatory pressure, the company has realigned its European operations. Details inside.

The European Union’s Data Protection Supervisor Giovanni Buttarelli told officials in Washington that the EU’s ambitious overhaul of its data regulations will “place the individual more firmly at the heart” of technology, by boosting transparency and individual control. Buttarelli said the reforms will be backed by real teeth, with fines as much as 5 percent of global annual turnover. Details inside.

CBI, the U.K.’s leading business group, finds that the slow adoption of existing technologies and management practices is fueling the U.K.’s deep-seated productivity problems, creating disparities in productivity and pay among businesses.

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority is seeking comment on how technology can make it easier for firms to meet their regulatory reporting requirements and improve the quality of the information they provide.